Young Kassidee Dunford Brings Home the Gold.

Release Date: 1/7/2013

Now she's the newest member of the Browning Pro Staff.

Kassidee joins the Browning team. Browning has officially invited young Kassidee Dunford to join the Browning Pro Staff as one of its youngest members. But being young does not mean fewer accomplishments. Kassidee is currently 19 years old and a sophomore at the University of Utah. But she has been involved in the shooting sports since she was 14 years old and has been busy compiling a list of difficult shooting achievements.

Practice, Practice. Practice. According to Kassidee, she first became involved in competitive shooting with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC). The Challenge includes four shooting events: archery, shotgun, muzzle loader, and .22 rimfire rifle. As part of the YHEC program there are also four knowledge events. The knowledge events put extra pressure on these young athletes making it essential to hit the books as much as the range. Knowledge events are safety trail, orienteering, wildlife identification, and an extensive hunter safety exam.

She was also involved in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) for three years during high school. "I participated in these programs until I reached the maximum age limit and graduated from high school. At this point in my life everything took a complete U-turn. I started college, most of my friends moved away, and I could no longer compete in the youth shooting programs anymore."

Kassidee told us that she wasn’t quite sure what to do at that point besides focusing on school, her religion, and spending time with her family. "My love and dedication for shooting drove me to the decision of going for the Olympics in 2016. She explained that " although I was a two times state champion in YHEC in the rifle event, I really enjoyed the challenge that shotgun shooting was for me. I decided this was the event for me to further my knowledge and skills in."

Taking the gold takes a uniquely determined person. On December 29, 2012 Kassidee and her Citori XT Trap went to Tucson, Arizona for a USA Shooting sanctioned event. The event is often called a USA Shooting Olympic Preliminary Tryout and is an important, early step in the Olympic qualification process. She was tied for second place going into the final round. In the final round only one shell is allowed at each bird. As she explained in her sweet, unassuming way "I seem to perform well under pressure and was able to win the gold medal."

Setting a goal for Rio D Janeiro. She says that the most important thing she has learned about shooting is how important goals are. "I would be nowhere in shooting if it weren’t for the goals I had set for myself." Currently her short term goal is to compete in the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs in the summer of 2013. Her long term goal is to compete in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 2016 Olympics. "I know how big of a challenge this is going to be for me but I know that I can conquer anything I set my mind to."

This quote from Kassidee tells a great deal about how she has achieved so much in such a short time: "In life there will always be losses . . . it's up to us to focus on the next clay."

Kassidee Dunford lives in Morgan, Utah, not far from the headquarters of the Browning company. Kassidee tells us " I am so happy to represent Browning, my family, country, religion and Morgan County." She shoots a Citori XT Trap in competition and is partial to her Browning BAR in 300 Win Mag (with BOSS) for big game hunting.

And we are very proud to have her as the newest member of our ProStaff team and part of the Browning family.

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